Rural
30 August, 2024
New strawberry variety makes Stella debut at Ekka
A high-yielding, disease-resistant and delicious new strawberry variety has been unveiled at the Ekka, on top of the famous Ekka strawberry sundae.
The new subtropical strawberry variety, StellaASBP, developed by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) and Hort Innovation’s Australian Strawberry Breeding Program (ASBP) in partnership with Hort Innovation and the Australian berry industry has hit the shelves this winter.
Stella-ASBP’s strengths include its resistance to red leaf disorder, ensuring healthier and more robust plants.
Its high yield promises an abundant supply of delicious strawberries and it has rated highly in consumer testing.
The Stella-ASBP strawberry is named in honor of the late Stella Young, a renowned journalist, disability activist and comedian, who passed away in 2014. The name celebrates her legacy and contributions to Australian society.
Anyone wanting to taste test the new Stella-ASBP variety can find it at farm gates.
Variety names are not commonly included on strawberry punnets for consumers to identify, however, this great-tasting variety will improve the overall consumer experience.
Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries, The Honorable Mark Furner, said DAF-bred strawberry varieties account for 85% of strawberries grown in Queensland and more than 50% nationally.
“The continuous development and improvement of our varieties ensures more robust plants with better yields and more supply, so everyone can continue to enjoy strawberries yearround, and on their Ekka sundaes,” he said.
“Naming this remarkable strawberry variety aft er the late Stella Young is a tribute to her legacy.
We are proud to celebrate her memory with the Stella-ASBP strawberry.
“Queensland strawberry growers produce 42% of Australia’s strawberries, contributing $180 million for the Queensland economy.”
Hort Innovation Industry Service and Delivery GM Andrew Francey said over the past five years, trials and consultation with Australian strawberry growers has had an overwhelming positive response, with “feedback from industry showing Stella ASBP has large fruit, high yield and a high flavor rating.”
The Australian Strawberry Breeding Program has been funded by Hort Innovation using the strawberry research and development levy, with co-contributions from the Queensland Government through its Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and funds from the Australian Government.
Data was sourced from the 2022/23 Australian Horticulture Statistics Handbook.
